McColl, South Carolina Mayor George Garner II died in a car wreck on November 26 after veering into oncoming traffic and colliding with a tractor-trailer. Authorities confirmed that he was being pursued by sheriff’s deputies at the time of the crash, although the pursuit was not related to any laws being broken. Garner was the only occupant in the vehicle and later succumbed to his injuries at a nearby hospital. The driver of the tractor-trailer was injured but survived.
The crash is under investigation by the South Carolina Highway Patrol’s Major Accident Investigation Team. Marlboro County Sheriff Charles Lemon stated that officers were following Garner after his wife contacted the sheriff’s office, but they were not actively pursuing him at the time of the crash.
This incident comes after the resignation of McColl’s police chief and four other law enforcement officials, leaving the town without a police force. Garner was also the subject of an active investigation by the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, although specific details were not disclosed.
The circumstances surrounding Garner’s death raise questions about the role of law enforcement in the pursuit and the ongoing investigations in the town. The community is mourning the loss of their mayor and seeking answers as the investigation unfolds.
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